BRIDGE MASTERCLASS

What should South bid?

Knowing full well that north has a long, solid and self-supporting club suit — it can’t be diamonds, of which you have the king — you really only have to apply a little common sense to think of the right bid. Have a try before you read the answer. Did you get it? You should bid 6♣. The reason is easy to find. if you are going to be in a slam you must be declarer.

north is not going to hold the ♦A, so if you are declarer in clubs the lead will come up to your hand, which will protect your ♦K whereas, played by north, a diamond lead, through what would be the Kx in dummy, could well prove fatal.

nor have you any wish to play in a suit other than clubs, which will be as good as seven to the four top honours, and your major suit tops will absorb all north’s losers.